Latest news with #JeremyZidek
CBC
14 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Alaska tsunami warning had residents scrambling for high ground after 7.3 magnitude earthquake
, Mark Thiessen Earthquake happened Wednesday afternoon, south of Sand Point in the Aleutian chain Communities along a 1,126-kilometre stretch of Alaska's southern coast ordered residents to higher ground after a powerful offshore earthquake Wednesday, but officials quickly downgraded and then cancelled a tsunami warning for the region. There were no reports of significant damage. The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, struck at 12:37 p.m. local time south of Sand Point, a community of about 600 people on Popof Island, in the Aleutian chain, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. "We have seen other earthquakes in the area that have not generated significant tsunami waves, but we're treating it seriously and going through our procedures, making sure communities are notified so they can activate their evacuation procedures," said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson for Alaska's emergency management division. The quake was felt as far away as Anchorage, almost 966 kilometres to the northeast. The National Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for an area stretching from about 64 kilometres southwest of Homer to Unimak Pass, a distance of about 1,126 kilometres. Among the larger communities in the area was Kodiak, with a population of about 5,200. The warning was downgraded to an advisory about an hour later, and cancelled just before 2:45 p.m. The highest water level generated by the earthquake in Sand Point was not quite 6.3 centimetres above the tide, the centre said. "There's no damage at the airport, doesn't appear to be any damage at the harbour, no damage to speak of, really," Sand Point Police Chief Benjamin Allen said. There was some damage — in the form of broken bottles — at the Alaska Commercial general store in town. Manager Vickey McDonald said about half of the store's alcohol aisle had crashed and shattered. "I've got liquid smoke and barbecue sauce and pickles ... broken on the floor," McDonald said. "It smells horrendous in here." In Unalaska, a fishing community of about 4,100, officials urged people in possible inundation zones to move at least 50 feet above sea level or 1.6 kilometres inland. In King Cove, which has about 870 residents on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, officials sent an alert calling on those in the coastal area to move to higher ground. Tourists Jodie Stevens and her husband, Aaron Park, were looking at the puffins at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward when they heard someone yelling that there had been an earthquake and they needed to evacuate. They walked a few blocks uphill in the rain, with a woman from the facility yelling to those they passed to get to higher ground. They were about halfway to the official high ground spot when they heard a siren signal that all was clear, she said. The National Weather Service said in posts on social media that there was no tsunami threat for other U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America, including Washington, Oregon and California. Alaska's southern coast is earthquake-prone, and Wednesday's was the fifth in roughly the same area since 2020 exceeding magnitude 7, state seismologist Michael West said. "Something's moving in this area," he said. "I would not call this an isolated earthquake. It appears to be part of a larger sequence spanning the last several years." That has the attention of seismologists, he said.
American Military News
18-07-2025
- Climate
- American Military News
Tsunami warning issued in Alaska after 7.3 magnitude earthquake
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning on Wednesday for parts of Alaska's coast following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in the region. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center later downgraded the warning to an advisory before canceling the alert. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurred on Wednesday roughly 54 miles south of Sand Point, which is located off the Alaska Peninsula. The Associated Press reported that the Alaska Earthquake Center confirmed that Wednesday's earthquake took place at 12:37 p.m. (local time) and that 40 aftershocks were documented in the first three hours following the initial earthquake. In a statement obtained by The Associated Press, Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson fro the state's emergency management division, said, 'We have seen other earthquakes in the area that have not generated significant tsunami waves, but we're treating it seriously and going through our procedures, making sure communities are notified so they can activate their evacuation procedures.' According to Live Now Fox, the National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for a roughly 700-mile stretch of Alaska's coast, including the area of Kodiak, which has a population of approximately 5,200 people. READ MORE: Tsunami warning issued along west coast after massive earthquake: 'You are in danger' In an alert on X, formerly Twitter, the National Tsunami Warning Center said, 'A TSUNAMI WARNING is posted for portions of Alaska following a M7.2 earthquake 50 miles S of Sand Point, Alaska, at 12:38pm AKDT July 16.' Roughly an hour after issuing a tsunami warning, the National Tsunami Warning Center changed the alert to an advisory, and less than an hour after the warning was changed to an advisory, the National Tsunami Warning Center canceled the alert. According to Fox Weather, the Tsunami Warning Center said that while a tsunami was 'generated' by Wednesday's 7.3 magnitude earthquake, the tsunami 'no longer poses a threat' to Alaska. However, the Tsunami Warning Center added that certain areas in Alaska could 'continue to see small sea level changes.' While Wednesday's tsunami warning was ultimately canceled, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that it evacuated personnel from Base Kodiak and had two air crews prepared to offer assistance. 'USCG is responding to NWS Tsunami Warning for portions of AK,' U.S. Coast Guard Arctic stated in a post on social media. 'Heed warnings of NWS and local officials. USCG evacuating personnel from Base Kodiak to higher ground & launched 2 ready aircrews.'
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Why Alaska's recent 7.3 earthquake has caught the attention of scientists
A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off Alaska's Aleutian Islands on Wednesday, prompting a tsunami warning and calls for coastal residents to seek higher ground, though officials later confirmed no significant damage or injuries. The tremor, which hit a seismically active region that has seen several strong quakes in the past five years, including a similar event almost exactly two years ago, initially triggered fears of a large wave. However, the tsunami warning was downgraded after about an hour. Communities spanning a 700-mile (1,127-km) stretch of Alaska 's southern coast had advised residents to evacuate. The National Tsunami Warning Center reported the maximum wave height at Sand Point, 55 miles (88 kilometres) north of the epicentre, was a mere 3.9 inches (10 centimetres), occurring at low tide. Despite the initial alarm, authorities confirmed on Thursday that there had been no reports of injuries or major damage from the event. Earthquake sparked tsunami warning The earthquake struck at 12:37 p.m. local time, prompting the center's tsunami warning. There are a number of ways people in warning areas can receive notifications, including the sounding of sirens in communities that have them, listening to weather radio or public radio broadcasts, following official accounts on social media, or via push alerts on cellphones. In some places, local officials have relayed warnings door to door, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson with the state's emergency management division. Public safety departments in King Cove and Unalaska sent alerts urging those in coastal areas or those that could see inundation to seek higher ground. The warning issued by the center was downgraded to an advisory before being canceled around 2:45 p.m. Alaska is one of world's most seismically active regions Alaska is the most earthquake -prone state in the U.S. and one of the most seismically active regions in the world, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The state experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost annually, and the second-largest earthquake ever recorded was centered about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Anchorage, the agency said. That 1964 magnitude 9.2 earthquake — and the tsunami it triggered — killed about 130 people. The Aleutian arc is no stranger to earthquakes, but the activity in the region where Wednesday's earthquake struck has gotten scientists' attention. The area, within a few hundred miles of the earthquake, has 'lit up' since 2020, with Wednesday's earthquake marking the fifth exceeding magnitude 7.0 since 2020, said state seismologist Michael West. 'I would not call this an isolated earthquake. It appears to be part of a larger sequence spanning the last several years," he said. But West added: 'There's no reason to be alarmist about this.' People should continue to heed warnings, officials say Some communities have buildings designated on higher ground as meet-up points during tsunami warnings, such as a school, while others might simply urge residents to retreat up a hillside, Zidek said. 'That area of Alaska, most areas of Alaska, it gets steep real quick,' he said. Sometimes, the only warning one might have is the shaking ground, Zidek said. 'If it shakes violently for 20 seconds or more, that is your warning sign, and you should head to higher ground if you're in a coastal area,' he said. Zidek and West said people should continue to heed warnings. West said he worries about a 'burnout effect' among residents in the region, some of whom have evacuated numerous times since 2018 in response to larger earthquakes that have not caused significant damage. West said he is reminded of a magnitude 8.6 earthquake in 1946 — west of the location of Wednesday's quake — that generated a deadly tsunami and led to the creation of a U.S. tsunami warning system. The death toll included more than 150 people in Hawaii, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'This area is capable of trans-Pacific tsunamis, and I feel like maybe the best way to stay vigilant ... is maybe to look into our deeper history beyond just the last five years,' he said
The Mainichi
18-07-2025
- Climate
- The Mainichi
Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state. Here is why Wednesday's earthquake was notable
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- Wednesday's magnitude 7.3 earthquake off Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain struck in a region that has experienced a handful of powerful quakes within the last five years -- including one that shook communities almost exactly two years earlier. Officials said Thursday they had received no reports of injuries or major damage from the latest event, which triggered a tsunami warning that lasted about an hour before being downgraded and prompted communities along a 700-mile (1,127-km) stretch of Alaska's southern coast to urge people to move to higher ground. The official maximum wave height at Sand Point, a community 55 miles (88 kilometers) north of the epicenter, was about 3.9 inches (10 centimeters), said Kara Sterling, a lead duty scientist at the National Tsunami Warning Center. It occurred at low tide. Earthquake sparked tsunami warnings The earthquake struck at 12:37 p.m. local time, prompting the center's tsunami warning. There are a number of ways people in warning areas can receive notifications, including the sounding of sirens in communities that have them, listening to weather radio or public radio broadcasts, following official accounts on social media, or via push alerts on cellphones. In some places, local officials have relayed warnings door to door, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson with the state's emergency management division. Public safety departments in King Cove and Unalaska sent alerts urging those in coastal areas or those that could see inundation to seek higher ground. The warning issued by the center was downgraded to an advisory before being canceled around 2:45 p.m. Alaska is one of world's most seismically active regions Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state in the U.S. and one of the most seismically active regions in the world, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The state experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost annually, and the second-largest earthquake ever recorded was centered about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Anchorage, the agency said. That 1964 magnitude 9.2 earthquake -- and the tsunami it triggered -- killed about 130 people. The Aleutian arc is no stranger to earthquakes, but the activity in the region where Wednesday's earthquake struck has gotten scientists' attention. The area, within a few hundred miles of the earthquake, has "lit up" since 2020, with Wednesday's earthquake marking the fifth exceeding magnitude 7.0 since 2020, said state seismologist Michael West. "I would not call this an isolated earthquake. It appears to be part of a larger sequence spanning the last several years," he said. But West added: "There's no reason to be alarmist about this." People should continue to heed warnings, officials say Some communities have buildings designated on higher ground as meetup points during tsunami warnings, such as a school, while others might simply urge residents to retreat up a hillside, Zidek said. "That area of Alaska, most areas of Alaska, it gets steep real quick," he said. Sometimes, the only warning one might have is the shaking ground, Zidek said. "If it shakes violently for 20 seconds or more, that is your warning sign, and you should head to higher ground if you're in a coastal area," he said. Zidek and West said people should continue to heed warnings. West said he worries about a "burnout effect" among residents in the region, some of whom have evacuated numerous times since 2018 in response to larger earthquakes that have not caused significant damage. West said he is reminded of a magnitude 8.6 earthquake in 1946 -- west of the location of Wednesday's quake -- that generated a deadly tsunami and led to the creation of a U.S. tsunami warning system. The death toll included more than 150 people in Hawaii, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "This area is capable of trans-Pacific tsunamis, and I feel like maybe the best way to stay vigilant ... is maybe to look into our deeper history beyond just the last five years," he said.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state. Here is why Wednesday's earthquake was notable
Alaska-Quake JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Wednesday's magnitude 7.3 earthquake off Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain struck in a region that has experienced a handful of powerful quakes within the last five years — including one that shook communities almost exactly two years earlier. Officials said Thursday they had received no reports of injuries or major damage from the latest event, which triggered a tsunami warning that lasted about an hour before being downgraded and prompted communities along a 700-mile (1,127-km) stretch of Alaska's southern coast to urge people to move to higher ground. The official maximum wave height at Sand Point, a community 55 miles (88 kilometers) north of the epicenter, was about 3.9 inches (10 centimeters), said Kara Sterling, a lead duty scientist at the National Tsunami Warning Center. It occurred at low tide. Earthquake sparked tsunami warnings The earthquake struck at 12:37 p.m. local time, prompting the center's tsunami warning. There are a number of ways people in warning areas can receive notifications, including the sounding of sirens in communities that have them, listening to weather radio or public radio broadcasts, following official accounts on social media, or via push alerts on cellphones. In some places, local officials have relayed warnings door to door, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson with the state's emergency management division. Public safety departments in King Cove and Unalaska sent alerts urging those in coastal areas or those that could see inundation to seek higher ground. The warning issued by the center was downgraded to an advisory before being canceled around 2:45 p.m. Alaska is one of world's most seismically active regions Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state in the U.S. and one of the most seismically active regions in the world, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The state experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost annually, and the second-largest earthquake ever recorded was centered about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Anchorage, the agency said. That 1964 magnitude 9.2 earthquake — and the tsunami it triggered — killed about 130 people. The Aleutian arc is no stranger to earthquakes, but the activity in the region where Wednesday's earthquake struck has gotten scientists' attention. The area, within a few hundred miles of the earthquake, has 'lit up' since 2020, with Wednesday's earthquake marking the fifth exceeding magnitude 7.0 since 2020, said state seismologist Michael West. 'I would not call this an isolated earthquake. It appears to be part of a larger sequence spanning the last several years," he said. But West added: 'There's no reason to be alarmist about this.' People should continue to heed warnings, officials say Some communities have buildings designated on higher ground as meetup points during tsunami warnings, such as a school, while others might simply urge residents to retreat up a hillside, Zidek said. 'That area of Alaska, most areas of Alaska, it gets steep real quick,' he said. Sometimes, the only warning one might have is the shaking ground, Zidek said. 'If it shakes violently for 20 seconds or more, that is your warning sign, and you should head to higher ground if you're in a coastal area,' he said. Zidek and West said people should continue to heed warnings. West said he worries about a 'burnout effect' among residents in the region, some of whom have evacuated numerous times since 2018 in response to larger earthquakes that have not caused significant damage. West said he is reminded of a magnitude 8.6 earthquake in 1946 — west of the location of Wednesday's quake — that generated a deadly tsunami and led to the creation of a U.S. tsunami warning system. The death toll included more than 150 people in Hawaii, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'This area is capable of trans-Pacific tsunamis, and I feel like maybe the best way to stay vigilant ... is maybe to look into our deeper history beyond just the last five years,' he said.
